The next day.
The dust had already settled on the Yanhong Prize. This was the cruelty of the highest award. Even if the people doubted it, even if everyone felt wronged for Zhang Ye, the quadrennial award had already been given out and no one could change it. Those five names would go down in the annals of the Yanhong Literary Prize and the annals of the literary world. Meanwhile, Zhang Ye had missed his only chance to do so. The majority of the people in the literary world still refused to acknowledge him despite his unorthodox background.
Everyone thought it was over.
Everyone thought that Zhang Ye had completely collapsed because of the so-called "beauty".
In the morning.
At the studio.
A few colleagues came to work listlessly.
"He's here?"
"Mm, morning."
"Hai, did you read Director Zhang's poem?"
"I saw it. This industry has always been so cruel."
"After reading that poem, I feel that Director Zhang's decision was right. The entertainment industry these days is too ugly. There are compromises, betrayals, and endless hype. There's nothing wrong with being a little prettier!"
"But we lost the highest award."
"Our plan to reach the summit has been foiled!"
"Sigh, the first step of the plan has not been completed. The rest will be even more difficult."
"I don't think there's any chance of him reaching the summit this year. Our Director Zhang has offended too many people and industries in the past. The higher he goes, the greater the pressure. Right now, he's just repaying his debts. I wonder how many people are waiting for Director Zhang to fall. I wonder how many of them are clapping and cheering at this moment. Reach the summit? As long as our Director Zhang is careless, just watch. Countless people will rush forward to bite him! "
Everyone was chatting.
Ha Qiqi had just come in after buying breakfast.
At this moment, footsteps came from upstairs. "Then let them bite. I've fought for so many years and I've never lost. I want to see who can bite who."
It was Zhang Ye!
Zhang Zuo: "Huh?"
Little Wang exclaimed, "Why are you here so early?"
"What early?" Zhang Ye laughed and said, "I haven't left since I came back yesterday. Hurry up, who brought breakfast?"
Ha Qiqi reflexively said, "I bought it from here."
Zhang Ye hurriedly came over and sat down. He grabbed the soup dumplings and started stuffing them into his mouth. After eating a few, he quickly said to Ha Qiqi, "You should eat too, Sis Ha."
Ha Qiqi: "…"
What am I supposed to eat?
You didn't leave any for me!
Wu Yi asked in surprise, "You didn't sleep last night?"
Zhang Ye inserted the straw and slurped down the soy milk. "OK."
Seeing that Zhang Ye was in a good mood, Zhang Zuo was also very puzzled. Based on Director Zhang's temper, he would definitely be furious at this moment, so why was he still so calm? He asked tentatively, "Director Zhang, has our 'Reach the Summit Plan' been scrapped? The plan after that is still … "
Zhang Ye asked in surprise, "Why is it invalid?"
Zhang Zuo smiled bitterly. "But we haven't even completed the first step."
After finishing his soy milk, Zhang Ye smiled and said, "I've already said that you guys should just focus on making the plans. As for how to make it a reality, that's not for you to worry about. That's my problem."
Everyone simply sat down for the meeting.
Ha Qiqi said, "Our previous plan was to first win the highest award in the literature field to establish our credentials and push our popularity up a little more. Then, we could use the popularity of the award to come out with a novel similar to Ghost Blows Out the Light. Any other genre would be fine too and we would try our best to make it sell well. You haven't written a novel in a long time, so it's a good opportunity to boost your popularity in the literary field to new heights. That way, we'll be one step closer to achieving our 'Reach the Summit' plan. But now that we haven't won the highest award in the literature field, the next step is …"
But Zhang Ye pointed upstairs. "I've already started writing the novel."
Zhang Zuo exclaimed, "You've already started writing it?"
"Yeah, what else do you guys think I've been doing all night?" Zhang Ye recalled. "Oh yes, hurry up and contact the publishing firm. We can start working on it now."
Ha Qiqi said, "When will you finish writing it?"
Zhang Ye checked the dates. "I'll try to finish it in two days."
Two days?
A short story?
"OK."
"Understood."
"I'll go and contact them!"
No one asked any further.
Zhang Ye did not say much either. After he finished eating, he hurried upstairs. Everyone only heard the sound of his office door being slammed shut. No one saw Zhang Ye come out until nightfall.
The next day.
Past 5 PM.
The office door opened. Zhang Ye walked downstairs with a disheveled appearance.
Everyone stood up.
"Aiyo!"
"Director Zhang, you're finally out!"
"Hurry up and eat. I've already bought the food!"
"You scared us to death. You didn't even open the door when we knocked."
But Zhang Ye was smiling. His eyes were gleaming. "Little Wang, print out the manuscript."
In less than two days, he had already finished writing it. The price he had to pay was also very high. Zhang Ye had barely slept for the past two days. He spent almost 20 hours a day sitting in front of the computer typing. Zhang Ye had always been like this. When he worked, he never cared about his life. Everyone knew him.
Little Wang hurriedly went upstairs to print out the manuscript.
20 copies.
50 copies.
100 copies.
The manuscript was printed out one by one.
The studio staff were getting more and more dumbfounded as they read on.
Ha Qiqi said in surprise, "Why are there so many?"
Zhang Zuo also hurriedly flipped through the printed manuscript. "W-How many words are there?"
"Around 200,000. I don't know, I didn't count," Zhang Ye said casually.
200,000!
Everyone was dumbfounded!
In less than two days, you've already written 200,000 words? Damn, I've seen fast shooters, but I've never seen one as fast as you! Is a grave robber novel so easy to write?
When everyone gathered around and saw the manuscript, they were stunned once again!
"What?"
"This … this isn't a grave robber novel?"
"Director Zhang, what's going on?"
"Is this a romance novel?"
"And it's even a marriage novel?"
"This is different from what we agreed on, Director Zhang!"
The studio staff looked at one another and felt that this was too risky. You can't write a marriage novel just because you're getting married, right? There wasn't much of a market for this kind of novel and it wouldn't sell well! He had written Ghost Blows Out the Light before, so with that foreshadowing, the public's anticipation for it would be even higher. As long as he put out a title like Ghost Blows Out the Light 2, the sales would definitely not be too bad. They couldn't understand why Zhang Ye would touch on the theme of marriage!
Zhang Ye smiled and said, "This is it. Contact the publishing firm and get it published as soon as possible."
He said it very confidently, so everyone could only do as he said.
After wolfing down his dinner, he was so happy that he even took a few sips of Erguotou. Then he walked into the empty conference room and took out his cell phone to make a call.
It was for Elder Qian.
Du du. The call connected.
"Elder Qian, have you eaten?"
"Little Zhang, I just finished eating. What's the matter? Is there something you need from me? "
"You mentioned that you're one of the judges for the Qilu Literature Prize?"
"Yes, what's the matter?"
"How do you get nominated for the Qilu Literature Prize?"
"Why are you asking about this? The nominees for the Qilu Literature Prize depend on the works. We will review the more outstanding literary works of the past four years and then recommend them to the various judges. Each judge can recommend one or two books for the shortlist, and then participate in the final round of competition. Five books will be chosen to win the final award. "
"Oh, then can you help me get nominated for a book as well?"
"Whose book is it?"
"Mine."
On the other end of the line, Elder Qian laughed. "Yours won't do. Be it Ghost Blows Out the Light or Legend of Wukong, they don't meet the requirements to be nominated. They're not traditional literary works, and the Qilu Literature Prize emphasizes more on literary quality. I can't let you in through the back door."
Zhang Ye said happily, "Don't worry, it's my new book."
Only then did Elder Qian take it seriously. "You want to compete for the Qilu Literature Prize?"
"Yes," Zhang Ye said.
Elder Qian: "Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking to you?"
Elder Qian did not understand. "Why?"
Zhang Ye chuckled and answered, "For beauty."
Why did he fall?
For beauty!
Then why did he get up again?
It was still for beauty!
Elder Qian was silent for a few seconds before asking, "What's the title of the book?"
Zhang Ye said calmly, "… Fortress Besieged."
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